Steam-regenerative accumulator.



A. G. E. RATEAU. STEAM REGENERATIVE AGGUMULATQR. APPLICATION FILED OCT.1, 1906.

968, 1 94, Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTE CAlVlILLE EDMOND RATEAU, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

STEAM-REGENERATIVE ACCUMULATOR.

Specification of Letterslatent.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

Application filed October 1, 1906. Serial No. 337,004.

steam and liquid is effected within the vessel of the accumulator, whichfeature of my invention will be fully pointed out in connection with thepreferred embodiment thereof shown in the drawing and which feature willbe set forth in the claims.

My invention will appear by reference to the accompanying drawing. inwhich Figures 1 and 2 show the preferred embodiment of one. type ofsteam regcnerator. Fig. 1 is in sectional elevation and Fig. 2 is insectional plan on line 9 9 of Fig. 1. Fig.

3 is a view illustrating another type of steam regenerator.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe different figures.

Steam is admitted from any suitable source, such as the exhaust of areciprocating engine, which steam finds its passage from the enginethrough the pipe a, which preferably communicates with a header so thatthe steam is admitted to this header before it is received into thechamber 0 of the accumulator. In the form shown in Fig. l, the chamber 0is provided with a plurality of diaphragms d and 6 extending across thesame, 'these diaphragms being centrally apertured, diaphragm d having apipe f projecting upwardly therefrom and diaphragm e having a pipe 9projecting upwardl therefrom. -Another diaphragm I1. is inc uded at thetop of the vessel 0 so as properly to define the water and prevent itsdischarge through the outlet i for regenerated steam. The diaphragms (Zand c with their pipes .f and g and the wall of the chamber 0 constitutevessels, one superposed on the other. A third vessel is located belowthe two vessels just described, and is also contained within the chamber0, the pi e g afiording a passage for steam escaping rom the tird orbottom vessel while the pipe f affords passage for the steam escapingfrom the intermediate vessel, while a central openmg 111 the diaphragmit through which the pipe f passes, permits the passage of the .steamfrom the top vessel, all of the steam from these three vessels passinginto the escape pipe 2' to perform the duty for which it is adapted.

In order that the levels in the different vessels may be maintaineduniform, openings f may be provided in the pipe f and openings in thepipe 9, located at the level to be maintained, the water flowing throughthese openings when it is about to exceed this level. By reason of thisconstruction there is a constant to and fro movement of the water fromchamber to: chamber, the water being finely divided as it falls from onechamber to a lower one by gravity through the steam in the main steampassage and being carried upward by the steam fronrsalosver to a higherchamber. Moreover, the greater the'amount of steam the greater will bethe mean levels of the water in the various chambers so that an amountof water proportional substantially to the amount of steanrwill flowfrom an upper to a lower chamber through the up lowing steam. Underthese conditions there a most intimate intermingling of steam and waterthe most important feature in a steam 'regenerator. The spraying of thewater by means of perforations also has the advantage of preventing anypockets of water temporarily closing the steam passage and causing backpressure upon the flowing steam, which would be liable to occur if waterfrom one chamber was allowed to pass through the steam passageto anotherchamber without being sprayed. \Vhere, as in Fig. 1, there are more thantwo chambers, the telescopic arrangement of pipes f and g still furtherassists the thorough intermingling of the steam and water in the to andfro movement of the latter, because it compels the Water falling fromthe upper chamber to pass tothe next chamber along the inside of onepipe and the outsideof the other, and

in like manner to pass from each vchamber to the next in thewholeseries.As a supplemental means'for maintaining the level in the two uppervessels, piping is maybe emvalve structure Z or any suitable means forpermitting the overflow of the water when it .has accumulated insuliicient quantity from the lowermost vessel.

\Vhen there is a plurality of vessels employed in a regenerating chamber0, as indicated in 1, several pipes or ducts m, a, 0 are employed, whichconvey the steam from the header Z) or any other suitable source intothe vessels, to effect agitation of the liquid contained in said vesselsand to occasion the intermingling of the steam conveyed through thepipes or ducts m, n, 0 with the liquid contained in the vessels.Ballieplates *1 p, p are providedone for each vessel-below which thepipes m, a, 0 have communication with the corresponding vessels, theliquid lying above the diaphragms p. In order that the liquid above thedia phragms 39 may also be brought effectively into agitation, I providedeflecting plates 9 in the diflerent vessels, that cause the liquid tobe displaced obliquely. It will be seen that the discharge openings ofthe pipes m,

Y n, 0 are so far below the other ends of these pipes that. the liquidin the vessels cannot find back passage into the header 1). The pipes m,n, 0 are desirably led into the vessel 0 in a tangential direction, sothat the fluid is caused to circulate tangentially, whereby the liquidin the different vessels is gyrated, and by reason of the gyratingmotion or circulation thereof, most thorough intermixture of the steamand the liquid, which is preferably water, is permitted.

While I prefer to direct the pipe 0 into the vessel 0 as indicated inFig. 2, I do not wish to be limited to this arrangement, for theconstruction shown in Fig. 3 may be employed particularly where thechamber a is horizontally disposed instead of being vertically disposed,as it is in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the constructionshown in Fig. 3, the horizontally disposed chamber 0 has a diaphragm 7extending preferably throughout the lengtli of the vessel c and beingdesirably diametrically placed with reference to the vessel 0. Thediaphragm, however, is disconnected from the longitudinal sides of thevessel 0 so that the liquid in the vessel may circulate.

The inlet pipe, lettered 0 in Fig. 3, may be projected into the liquidas there shown and may cause" a circulation of the liquid with the aidof the battle-plates r to cause the same gyrating action of the fluid inthe vessel for the same purpose. While I have shown but one pipe 0 inFig. 3 projected into a vessel c, I do not 'wishto be limited to thenumber of pipes.

In order that there may be a definite ratio of pressures in the chamber0 and the header b, a branch pipe 8 is connected between these twoelements, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3,

a relief valve t opening whenever the pressure in the element 0 hasexceeded a predetermined value.

By the apparatus illustrated an extremely high velocity within thegenerator is secured, so'that a most thorough interaction of the steamand liquid is secured for regenerating purposes.

The header 7) may possess as an additional function the capacity tospread oil and water, to which end the said header will be constructedin a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

It is obvious that changes may readily be made in the embodiments of theinvention herein shown, withoutdeparting from the spirit of myinvention, and I do not, there fore, wish to be limited to the preciseconstructions shown, but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters-Patent .1. A steam regenerator including a chamber containinga liquid heat retainer, a diaphragm located in the liquid dividing theliquid in shafts or layers, a header located above the liquid level andpiping leading steam from thedieader into the liquid on one side of thediaphragm.

2. A steam regenerator including a chamber containing liquid, a duettangentially disposed with respect to the chamber to so direct steaminto the chamber as to etl'ect gyration of the liquid, a battle platelocated above the discharge opening ot the duct, and a deflectingplatel'or obliquely directing the liquid. I 3. A steam regenerator includinga chamber for containing liquid, said chamber having an' obliquelydisposed battle plate therein, a duct for directing steam into thechamber so as to cause liquid within the chamber to be deflected by saidbattle plate and a battle plate located above the duct.

, l. A steam regenerator comprising several chambers located one abovethe other, piping leading steam from lower chamber to upper chamberabove the level of liquid contained therein and provided with a numberof perforations or openings located to allow liquid to fall in streamsfrom upper chamber to lower chamber through the steam passing from onechamber to the other.

5. A steam regenerator comprising-st:veral chambers located one abovethe other, piping leading steam from lowerchamber to upper chamber abovethe level of liquid contained therein and'provided withperforations oropenings located to allow liquid to fall in streams from upper chamberto lower chamber through the steam passing from one chamber to theother, and automatic means to remove the liquid from lower chamber.v 6.In a steam regenerator, a plurality of chambers, a main steam passagecarrying steam from one chamber to'above the water level of another, andmeans for conveying water in finely divided streams from the latterchamber to the former through the steam in said passage.

7. In a steam regenerator, two chambers, means for conveying Water infinely divided streams from one chamber to the other, and means forcarrying the steam through said divided streams to the chamberfrom'which they were conveyed. I

8. In a steam regenerator, two chambers, a main steam passage carryingsteam from one chamber to above the water in another,

and means for conveying Water in finely di vided streams, and in amountproportional 5 my name this sixth day of September A. D.,. 20

AUGUSTE CAMILLE EDMOND RATEAU.

Witnesses L. H. MUNIER, E. MERKLMIN.

